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By Any Other Name	By : cowgirl65 Category: 1 through F > The Big Valley Views: 2468 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I in no way own The Big Valley, the characters or situations from the show. I make no money from writing this, just the personal satisfaction of (hopefully!) entertaining those who love the show as much as I do.

Chapter List
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Jarrod closed the door behind him and carefully set the large box against the wall. He hoped Heather would be thrilled with his surprise and couldn’t wait to see the look on her face. He heard soft humming from the study and walked in to find Heather dusting around the papers on his desk.

“Hard at work I see,” he commented as he leaned against the wall. She turned and gave him a bright smile.

“You’re back early,” Heather observed. “I haven’t even thought of dinner yet, so you can choose.”

“Well, then.” Jarrod sauntered over to her and pulled something out of his pocket. “I choose dinner at the Palace Hotel dining room followed by a night at the opera.”

Heather’s eyes grew huge as she looked at the tickets to La Traviata Jarrod handed her. “Jarrod, you can’t mean it,” she exclaimed in disbelief.

Jarrod just grinned. “Jarrod Barkley rarely jokes,” he assured her as he gave her a playful tap on the nose with a finger. “And since our reservations are in just over an hour, I suggest you go get the box I left you in the hall and see if it fits.” He turned her in the direction of the door and gave her a gentle push.

Still with an expression of disbelief, Heather picked up the box in the hall. Jarrod held it steady as she opened it.

“Jarrod…” She didn’t say anything else as she pulled out the magnificent silk creation. Gold threads winked at her through the dark red and she caught a glimpse of intricate embroidery. “This must’ve cost a fortune!”

“I just hope it fits,” Jarrod said with a hint of mischief. “Do you know how much I worried that you’d find out I plundered your closet so they could get your size right?” He gave her another push, this time in the direction of the stairs. “Go get ready. If you need help, I’ll have you know I’m very good with buttons and hooks.” His eyes glinted with mischief.

That earned him a laugh and a kiss. “With unfastening them,” she laughed. “Doing them up, well, I’ll just have to take your word for it.”

Jarrod watched as she carefully put the bundle of fabric back in the box and headed up the stairs before going to get ready himself.

Heather thought she was in a dream as she looked in the mirror. Not to say that her current life with Jarrod wasn’t a dream in itself, but she’d never imagined wearing something like this. The cut was simple, a tightly fitted bodice that flowed smoothly into a full skirt of the heaviest, most expensive silk brocade Heather had ever seen. A few gathers pulled the back into a small bustle and a modest train swept the floor. The décolletage was low cut with gold embroidery and the sleeves were stylishly short. Heather managed to get it fastened by herself, never having used a ladies’ maid.

She’d found another small box inside the larger one, this one holding two jewelled hair clips, matching earrings and elbow length gloves. Heather fastened her blonde hair into an elegant upsweep secured by the clips, fastened the earrings to her ears and donned the gloves. The fine lady looking back at her from the mirror was a far cry from the ragged girl who scrubbed floors in the hotel in Strawberry. The story of Cinderella was brought to mind and Heather giggled at the thought that Jarrod Barkley was fairy godmother and Prince Charming all rolled into one. But even though she was only playing at being a fine lady, Heather was happy to believe the dream would last long after midnight, even if she knew it couldn’t be forever.

*

Heather sighed with delight as Jarrod escorted her to the lobby at intermission. Dinner had been amazing and the opera was enchanting. The strains of Verdi’s music played over in her head as Jarrod handed her a glass of champagne.

“Enjoying yourself?” he asked with a dashing smile. He looked so incredibly handsome in his formal black suit, he took her breath away.

She was sure the smile on her face already told him, but answered anyway. “It’s wonderful, Jarrod, thank you.”

“Ah, Jarrod.” Jarrod and Heather turned to find a distinguished looking gentleman with a neatly trimmed moustache approach.

“Senator,” Jarrod greeted with a hearty handshake. “How are you this fine evening?”

“Oh, good, good,” the senator replied. He gave Heather an appraising once over and she was hard pressed to control her reaction when she recognized him a client from her short time at the bordello. Jarrod knew what she was, Heather reminded herself, but she still hoped the other man wouldn’t say anything.

“Senator Bridger, this is Miss Thomson,” Jarrod introduced graciously. “Heather, this is Senator Sam Bridger. He’s been very instrumental in furthering legislation that will help our valley.”

“Pleased to meet you,” Heather said politely and the senator took her hand in a genteel handshake.

“You as well, Miss Thomson.”

“So, Jarrod.” The senator turned his attention to the dark haired lawyer. “I’ve heard there might be an opening for a new Attorney General in California.”

“Is that so?” Jarrod’s response was nonchalant, but when he took a sip of his champagne, Heather could see the glimmer of interest. “Any one in the running for the nomination?”

“Not yet, but we need fresh blood. Someone with fresh ideas and the ability to persuade people to listen to him.” Senator Bridger gave Jarrod a knowing look, which Jarrod returned in kind.

The lights dimmed to warn of the start of the next act and Jarrod and the senator said their goodbyes before everyone headed to their seats.

Heather couldn’t enjoy the rest of the show like she had the first part. The plight of the story’s heroine was too close to that of her own situation. Being with an unsuitable woman could seriously harm Jarrod’s future, especially if what she garnered from the conversation with the senator was true and Jarrod had his sights set on political office. But she put on a brave smile and the spectacular music and performances helped take her mind off the reality.

And later, the two of them together in Jarrod’s bed wove a magic of their own and she was able to lose herself briefly in the passion of their lovemaking. Jarrod fell asleep not long after, but Heather remained awake to stare at the ceiling. When she couldn’t lie still any longer, she quietly slipped out of the bed, not wanting to wake him. Pulling on a robe, she padded to the window and gazed out into the night. The moon glowed faintly behind a covering of cloud and Heather took a deep breath. She couldn’t deny reality any longer; a man like Jarrod Barkley couldn’t afford to be associated with a woman like her, not if he had any real ambitions. Someone aspiring to political office needed a respectable wife and family and that just wasn’t something she and Jarrod could ever have.

Heather started as strong arms wrapped around her waist.

“Something wrong?” Jarrod whispered into her ear.

Heather shook her head, trying to control her feelings as she leaned back against the warmth of his chest. “No, guess I just couldn’t sleep.”

Jarrod’s hands untied the robe and slipped it off her shoulders. “Maybe I can help,” he murmured seductively, kissing her neck as his hands caressed her breasts and stomach.

“Maybe you can,” Heather agreed. She felt Jarrod’s maleness grow hard against her as his hands continued to cherish her skin, lips kissing and nibbling their way across her neck and shoulders and she vowed again to make the most of every moment, knowing she would have to do the same as Violetta in Verdi’s opera and leave Jarrod before his relationship with her irrevocably ruined the future of the man she loved.
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By Any Other Name